13 days tour

Panama Canal & Colonial Highlights With Galápagos Islands (1

Panama Canal & Colonial Highlights With Galápagos Islands (1

This tour includes:

Flights

Economy flight from Lima to Quito, and Quito to Baltra Economy flight from Baltra to Guayaquil ***International flights are not included***

Transport

Expedition ship

Accommodation

Two nights in Quito, including breakfast and dinner Three nights at a hotel in Santa Cruz Island/Galáapagos, including full board

Others

Economy flight from Lima to Quito, and Quito to Baltra Economy flight from Baltra to Guayaquil Galápagos National Park entrance fee Expedition cruise in a cabin of your choice Fine-dining À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm is included for suite guests Complimentary tea and coffee Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported Complimentary reusable water bottle to fill at onboard water refill stations Range of included activities Experts from the Expedition Team present detailed lectures on a variety of topics Use the ship’s Science Center, which features an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes The Citizen Science program allows guests to contribute to current scientific research projects The onboard professional photographer will give tips and tricks for taking the best landscape and wildlife photos The ship has hot tubs, an infinity pool, a sauna, an outdoor and indoor gym, and an outdoor running track Loan of trekking poles and all equipment needed for the activities Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket Expedition photographers will help configure your camera settings before landings

Guide

English-speaking Expedition Team who organize and guide activities, both on board and ashore Participate in informal gatherings with the crew, such as daily recaps and the next day’s preparations

Meals

All transfers, excursions, and meals are as described in the itinerary, including an English-speaking guide Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) in restaurants Aune and Fredheim

Not included:

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Others

International flights Travel protection Baggage handling Optional shore excursions with our local partners Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area

Optional

Optional shore excursions with our local partners Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Panama Canal & Colonial Highlights With Galápagos Islands (1

  • Day 1 Day 1: Gateway To The Panama Canal
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Gateway To The Panama Canal

      The city of Colón lies by the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Atlantic coast. Here, you you’ll find high-quality hotels, a casino, hot springs, a thriving handicraft scene, and great restaurants featuring local delicacies. If you want to really explore the city or join a Pre-Program where you’ll spend time in a beautiful jungle lodge next to the Chagres River, you should arrange to arrive a couple of days earlier. Once you board the ship, you’ll pick up your complimentary expedition jacket, settle into your cabin, explore the ship, and attend a mandatory safety drill. After the welcome dinner (featuring a toast by the captain), you’ll meet your Expedition Team, who will run through important health and safety protocols with you.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Connecting Two Oceans
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Connecting Two Oceans

      We depart Colón early in the morning to start the process entering the Panama Canal. The complex canal network is over a hundred years old, stretching almost 50 miles through natural and man-made waterways. We’ll wait eagerly for our allocated slot to enter the first of a series of huge locks. In a feat of modern engineering, these ingenious locks effectively lift the ship more than 80 feet above sea level. If weather allows, the Expedition Team will be on deck to point out sites of interest around the canal and talk about the history of this ambitious project. Roughly halfway through the 12-hour transit of the canal, the ship will enter the Gatun Lake section. Created after the nearby Chagres River was damned, it’s one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. In contrast, the surrounding rainforest is virtually untouched by any development. The flora and fauna native to Central America flourish here, undisturbed. If you’re lucky, you may spot a crocodile or alligator ashore. Watch the trees and you may also catch a glimpse of a monkey (and maybe even a sloth or two). After a few more locks and lakes, the ship will pass under the Bridge of the Americas and emerge in the Pacific Ocean. In one day, you’ll have experienced the culmination of centuries of planning, hard work, and resourcefulness, and cross from one great ocean to another in the process. It’s sure to be an experience you won’t forget.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Welcome To The Pacific
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Welcome To The Pacific

      Spend some of your day at sea taking a relaxing walk on deck. Enjoy the seascapes and keep an eye out for marine wildlife like whales, sea lions, and seabirds. Want to feel closer to the water? Go for a dip in the infinity pool or one of the two outdoor hot tubs (where you can still admire the scenery). Head to the Science Center and make the most of the Expedition Team’s lectures to learn about what you will experience in the following days. Participate in a Citizen Science project, where you will help contribute to ongoing research around the world. When darkness falls and it’s a starry night, you can also join the Expedition Team on deck for some stargazing. When you’ve worked up an appetite, head to one of the three restaurants on board for varied and delicious meals. Afterward, grab a seat in the Explorer Lounge & Bar and raise a glass or two with your new-found friends.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Made In Montecristi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Made In Montecristi

      We cross the Equator early in the morning. In a traditional ceremony, we’ll seek King Neptune’s blessing on board. If luck is on our side, he might even make an appearance before we reach our first call in Ecuador. The main attraction of the day will be to Montecristi, located 5 miles inland from the tuna-fishing port city of Manta. It was established in the 16th century by manteños fleeing the frequent pirate raids on the coast. Even though it is located in Ecuador, Montecristi is the actual birthplace of the Panama hat, despite its name. The misnomer originated when President Roosevelt wore one of these hats on a visit to the Panama Canal in 1904, sparking their popularity worldwide. There are plenty of shops selling the genuine article, which local artisans have expertly handwoven from the leaves of the jipijapa tree. When you’re done hat-hunting, browse the stalls at the town’s pretty plaza, admire the architecture of the church, and look at the varied street art. One prominent mural at the plaza depicts General Eloy Alfaro, two-time Ecuadorian President and a Montecristi native. If time allows, head to the top of the main hill, where there is a museum and a grandiose mausoleum in honor of Alfaro, who was also known as the Viejo Luchador (Old Warrior).

  • Day 5 Day 5: Banana Capital Of The World’
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Banana Capital Of The World’

      Machala’s main claim to fame is Puerto Bolivar, an important Ecuadorian port where coffee, cocoa, shrimp, and bountiful bananas (which the locals call oro verde, or ‘green gold’) leave for export. As part of one of our optional excursions, you may have an opportunity to visit a local banana plantation, or try and spot hummingbirds, parakeets, and howler monkeys at the Buenaventura Nature Reserve to the south. The nearby Puyango Petrified Forest has one of the largest collections of fossilized trees in the world, thought to be about 100 million years old—as old as the Andes Mountains themselves. Feast on fresh seafood at Puerto Bolivar at one of the harbor’s many restaurants and enjoy views of the natural mangrove swamps of Isla Jambeli. Machala has all the charm you’d expect from a small coastal city. Stroll through quaint plazas filled with friendly locals, and admire unusual monuments dedicated to sorting fish and bananeros. The restaurants here are evolving and have started dabbling in the hip, modern cuisine for which Ecuador and Peru have increasingly become known.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Serenity At Sea
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Serenity At Sea

      Enjoy the serenity of this day at sea. Relax and admire the scenery from the observation deck or from the lounge. Throughout your journey, the Expedition Team will give lectures in the Science Center and share their extensive knowledge of the region. Topics could include periods of pre-Columbian history, the geology of the surrounding mountains and islands, the folklore of the local communities, and much more. Not all of our lectures are indoors, though! If curious seabirds fly nearby the ship, the Expedition Team might also help you spot and identify them from the deck. Our designated expedition photographer will also be available to help you learn the basics of expedition photography, in addition to documenting on our journey

  • Day 7 Day 7: Ancient Kingdoms
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Ancient Kingdoms

      Pummeled by the Pacific’s wind and waves, Salaverry can be a hard port to access. If we are able to land there, though, it’ll be a good starting point to explore Trujillo, Peru’s third-largest city, and the array of archeological sites scattered throughout the region. Trujillo sits in a fertile valley oasis irrigated by the Moche River. It boasts a colorful Baroque 17th-century cathedral, 10 colonial churches, and many Neoclassical mansions, not to mention one of the longest mosaic murals in the world at the local university. It’s more likely, however, that your focus will be further back on the past. The city of Chan Chan was created by the Chimú Empire, which appeared in the region around 900 A.D. The vast ruins of the complex, measuring almost 8 square miles, include the Tschudi temple-citadel and Huaca Esmeralda. On the other side of Trujillo are you’ll find the Mochican pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. These pre-date Chan Chan by a few hundred years! Huaca del Sol stands out as the largest adobe structure on the continent, while Huaca del Luna is a more detailed specimen, with many of its pastel frescos still visible.

  • Day 8 Day 8: On A High
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: On A High

      We dock in Callao and travel a short distance to the Lima airport for your flight to Quito, Ecuador’s capital. Upon arrival and after the transfer that brings you to the hotel, you’ll have the day to explore Quito at your leisure, with dinner served at the hotel. Originally settled by the Quitu people in the first millennium, Quito was eventually integrated into the Incan Empire before becoming the first Spanish settlement by conqueror Sebastián de Benalcásar in 1534. Stroll through the city’s historic center and view splendidly restored period buildings and Colonial-era churches lining the narrow, cobblestone streets. You’ll see why Quito’s historic center is described as the largest, least-altered, and best-preserved historic area in all of the Americas. That’s why, in 1978, it was one of the first places in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t be surprised if you feel a little short of breath when exploring the city, though. At 9,350 feet above sea level, Quito is the second-highest capital in the world, after La Paz (Bolivia), which is even 2,130 feet higher.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Views From The ‘Middle Of The World’
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Views From The ‘Middle Of The World’

      After breakfast, we’ll head to the Inti Ñan Museum, in the aptly named ‘City in the Middle of the World’, Quito, whose claim to fame is being built smack dab on the Equator. Here, you’ll see a range of totem poles and observe gravitational effects that occur only at the Equator. You’ll also learn about the traditions of rural life, including the customs and rituals of the indigenous Quechua-speaking people of the Amazon. Then we’ll ride the cable car (teleférico), one of Quito’s most popular attractions, which connects the city center to Cruz Loma hill on the east side of the Pichincha volcano. This 10-minute ride will take you to an altitude of over 13,000 feet for an incredible view of Quito, the surrounding valleys, and the snow-covered volcanoes. It gets chilly up there, so bring something warm to wear! Back in Quito, we’ll have lunch in the charming Colonial quarter before enjoying a sightseeing tour. Dinner will be served at the hotel, and then you’ll have the evening to spend at your leisure.

  • Day 10 Day 10: Arriving At Santa Cruz Island
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Arriving At Santa Cruz Island

      Start the day with breakfast at the hotel before being driven to Quito’s airport for our flight to the Galápagos Islands (via Guayaquil). When we arrive at Baltra’s airport, our local guide will be waiting to transfer you to the Itabaca Channel, where a small ferry awaits you to bring you to the island of Santa Cruz. Our travels will take us through a rural agricultural area surrounded by wild landscapes, where we can see many different species of flora and fauna. If you’re lucky, you might spot a few of the famous finches that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution based on natural selection. The highlands are one of the best places on the island to observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat. They’re easy to spot. They lumber around eating grass and leaves, and wallow in the small, muddy rain-formed pools. Younger giant tortoises tend to be smaller with shinier carapaces, while the larger, older giant tortoises proudly don weathered and worn shells—distinguished armor in a long life that can span over 100 years in the wild.After settling into your hotel in Puerto Ayora, we’ll walk to the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station. The station hosts educational museums about the history and development of the Galápagos Islands and the different ways of protecting its unique natural heritage. You can also observe the giant land tortoises native to the islands. This research station is the only place in the Galápagos where most of the different species reside at one site. Spend the afternoon at your leisure and explore the small, picturesque town of Puerto Ayora and its many local handicraft shops. See the colorful murals at the churches around town, or stroll over to Tortuga Bay to look for marine iguanas, crabs, and white-tip reef sharks among the mangroves. Dinner will be served at the hotel´s restaurant.

  • Day 11 Day 11-12: Galápagos Island–Hopping
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11-12: Galápagos Island–Hopping

      After breakfast, we’ll begin to explore the islands that have become synonymous with the theory of evolution and hailed as a natural laboratory for natural selection. The range of wildlife on display in the islands is mind-boggling. The islands are teeming with endemic species and subspecies ranging from the wonderful to the weird and everything in between. On each of our two days here, we’ll visit one island by boat, meaning we’ll see two of the possible six islands. We don’t know which islands we’ll see, as that is at the discretion of the park authorities, who regulate and assign visitors one month beforehand. Could it be Bartolomé Island, famous for the dramatic Pinnacle Rock and the rare colony of Galápagos penguins at its base? How about North Seymour Island, with its large populations of hilarious blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and magnificent frigatebirds? Another possibility is Santa Fe Island, known for having the most beautiful coves in the archipelago, with beaches covered in lounging sea lions. Perhaps we’ll head to South Plaza Island, where a growing colony of land iguanas roam among prickly pear cactus trees. Or maybe we’ll see the flamingo lagoon on Floreana, the southernmost island, and with some luck we’ll catch a glimpse of the bright green and red marine iguanas usually found here. Of it may be Isabela, the largest of the islands, home to a variety of mangroves and the largest community of wild tortoises in the entire archipelago. It’s clear that wherever you set foot to explore, you’re in for a real treat! You’ll go on walks to learn about the island’s geology, human history, and its exceptionally diverse wildlife. After two days, you’ll understand why these islands impressed Darwin so much and why they inspired his world-changing theory of evolution by natural selection.

  • Day 12 Day 13: Return To Mainland Ecuador
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Return To Mainland Ecuador

      After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll make our way to the Baltra airport to fly to Guayaquil and on to your connecting flight home. But, on the way to the Baltra airport, we’ll have just enough time to squeeze in one last stop, to see ‘Los Gemelos’—a pair of sinkholes often mistaken for volcanic craters in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Keep an eye out for the striking vermilion flycatcher and the endemic short-ear owl of the Galápagos, which can be seen in this area. With that, your expedition comes to an end. You’ll have journeyed from the marvel of human engineering at the Panama Canal and its complex lock system through to the Galápagos Islands, the birthplace of Darwin’s radical biological theory of natural selection and a sanctuary for unique wildlife found nowhere else in the world.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but you’re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

You’ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 6 / Max: 90

Age range allowed for this experience.

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